
Book -ff 



^ 



Copyiight]^^. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSITS 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 



By 



FRANCIS JOHNSTONE HOPSON 

It 



The New Count ** Royals " 

Together with the Rules of Auction 
Bridge as adopted by The Whist Club 
of New York, and published through 
the courtesy of The Whist Club. 



New York 

E. P. Dutton & Company 

1912 






:\^^ 



Copyright, 1912 
By E. p. button & COMPANY 



gCU316132 



ii 

^ 



THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO 

Mrs. T. CHARLES FARRELLY 

OF NEW YORK 

WHO IS IN MY OPINION THE BEST PLAYER OF AUCTION 

BRIDGE OF THE MANY WOMEN WITH WHOM I HAVE 

HAD THE PLEASURE OF PLAYING 



PREFACE. 

There are very few first-class players 
of Auction Bridge. There is a large 
number of good second-class players, 
but the vast majority grade from poor to 
very poor. Beginners generally play a 
thoughtful game, but they are apt to do 
their thinking after the hand has been 
played. 

The average player, with commend- 
able enthusiasm, buys a set of rules 
but lays them aside to be studied at some 
future time. The result is that he 
learns the rules of Auction Bridge by 
violating them at considerable expense 
to himself and his unfortunate partner. 
This ignorance of the rules is general 



VI PREFACE 

among players of the game and is doubly 
unfortunate, because it leads to a vio- 
lation of the rules and also to a failure 
to take advantage of violations on the 
part of opponents. As an illustration, 
nine out of ten players do not know what 
constitutes an established revoke and 
the different penalties that may be 
exacted. 

In this book I have purposety omitted 
illustrative hands, believing that it is 
better to acquire a knowledge of the 
fundamental principles of the game and 
to discover by actual play the hands 
that illustrate those principles. It is also 
true that the same hand should be bid 
in a different manner at different times, 
with reference to the score. 

It can not be impressed upon the 
reader too strongly that the first and 



PREFACE Vll 

most important feature of Auction 
Bridge is a knowledge of the rules, 
and the practice of their application. 
This means that you must be prepared 
to exact any penalty which your oppon- 
ents incur. 

The rules of The Whist Club of New 
York are recognized as official for the 
United States and are printed in this 
book by permission of The Whist Club. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface v 

The New Count i 

The Dealer's Bid 4 

The Second Bidder 10 

The Third Bidder 13 

The Fourth Bidder ...... 20 

Doubling and Re-doubling . . , .22 

The Discard ...».,. 25 

The ** Come along " Card . , . .29 

The Personal Equation 31 

The Luck of the Game 39 

The Laws of Auction Bridge as Adopted by 

The Whist Club 43 

Etiquette of Auction Bridge , . , .84 
ix 



THE NEW COUNT. 

The new cotint which is being played 
at The Whist Club of New York, but 
which may be modified at some future 
time, is as follows: 

Spades. 2 Hearts 8 

Clubs 6 Royal Spades. . . 9 

Diamonds 7 No-trump 10 

The rules of the game as published 
in this book by permission of The Whist 
Club of New York govern the new count 
exactly as the old. The effect of the 
new count is to make more even the 
status of the players, as it discriminates 
against the skill of the best. It also 
tends to give more of the gambling ele- 
1 



Z HOPSON ON AUCTION 

ment to the game than was possessed 
by the old count. 

No original bid is now given as an 
invitation, but is simply intended as in- 
f ormatory. The game of Auction Bridge 
is in a formative state, but the new 
count is such an improvement that the 
old count is doomed, and the method of 
counting given above or some modifica- 
tion will be adopted in the final evolu- 
tion of the game. 

The most obvious effect of the new 
count is to take away the tremendous 
sledge-hammer power of the no-trump 
make, although still allowing it to count 
three for game; and the placing of the 
black suits on a closer equality with the 
red. The chief result that has followed 
and the danger that is most to be guard- 
ed against is the over-bidding of the 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 3 

different suits. This fault is apparent 
in good players as well as in poor, and 
resembles closely the same fault that 
was observed when the change was made 
from Bridge to Auction Bridge. 



THE DEALER'S BID. 

"Know the Score." 

Some good players claim that the 
deal is not an advantage and is in fact 
a positive disadvantage, because the 
dealer is forced to make some bid and 
thereby disclose the condition of his 
hand. I have played with many men 
and have never heard one complain 
because he had the deal. As a matter 
of fact the deal is of distinct advantage, 
because it enables you to give immediate 
information to your partner of the con- 
dition of your hand. The whole science 
of bidding consists in giving accurate 
information. It is essential, therefore, 
4 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 5 

that the original bid should convey as 
nearly as possible exact information and 
under no circumstances should it give 
misinformation. While the power of 
the no-trump has been reduced, it still 
continues to be the most important suit, 
and it is the only one in which game can 
be made with three odd tricks. There- 
fore if you have a no-trump bid, however 
weak, it enables you to anticipate a no- 
trump declaration of the second hand, 
and it is well known that the player of 
a no-trump has a decided advantage 
against a hand equally as good as his 
own. While a no-trump bid is not so 
apt to hold under the new count, still it 
occasionally does, and in any event you 
convey that much information to your 
partner. 

The bid of one spade means just one 



6 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

thing. It does not mean strength in 
spades, and it does not mean an abnor- 
mally weak hand. It means simply 
that in the judgment of the dealer his 
hand does not warrant an initial bid 
higher than one spade. He may have a 
fairly good hand, but without sufficient 
strength to bid a no-trump or any other 
suit. On the contrary, he may not have 
in his hand a single spade. For example, 
if he finds that his hand contains the 
jack and 4 small diamonds, the jack and 
3 small hearts, and 4 small clubs, he must 
bid one spade although there is not a 
single spade in his hand; because any 
other bid will convey erroneous infor- 
mation to his partner. The dealer 
should never bid to make one in any 
suit except spades unless he holds the 
ace or king of the suit bid. If your 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 7 

suit is headed by the king, then the 
queen should go with it. He must also 
have sufQcient honors and length to 
warrant his partner in going to no-trump 
with the expectation of making two 
tricks in the suit bid. Never bid to 
make one in any suit headed by the 
queen no matter what the length may be. 
There is no original bid in Auction so 
bad as an initial bid by the dealer to 
make one odd in any suit other than 
spades, headed by the queen or some 
lower card. The main point to be 
emphasized is that you must have two 
quick tricks with outside support to 
bid to make one odd in any suit. For 
example, ace, king, and two small cards 
with outside support is a sound decla- 
ration. 

Holding six or seven cards headed by 



8 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

the queen or jack in royals or hearts, 
together with outside strength such as 
an ace and king, bid to make two. This 
bid of two tells your partner that you 
have the combination described above, 
or else that you are bidding on a long high 
suit. Should your partner go to two no- 
trumps you must be prepared to bid three 
of your suit, and it is his business then 
to leave you with the bid. If you bid to 
make two in diamonds or clubs, you must 
have a long high suit ; if in clubs, with 
ace, king, queen, and other small cards, 
together with an outside ace for a re- 
entry. The reason why this two bid on 
long low suits is confined to royals and 
hearts is because it is an aggressive bid 
made for the purpose of going game. 
The reason this bid is not made in 
diamonds or clubs is because it requires 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 9 

5 odd to go game in those suits, whereas 
it only reqvdres 4 in royals or hearts. 
Having long low suits in diamonds or 
clubs, you will probably have an oppor- 
tunity to bid on either of those suits if 
yotir partner's bid or your opponent's 
bid should warrant. 

The dealer must understand distinctly 
that his bid is simply informative. For 
example, a bid of two spades would 
indicate a short high suit in spades 
together with outside strength. Of 
course, it is for his partner to determine, 
on the information supplied, whether 
his hand warrants a no-trtimp declara- 
tion or a bid in royals. Always remem- 
ber that it requires only one trick more 
in royals or hearts to go game than it 
does in no-trump. 



THE SECOND BIDDER. 

" Know the Score." 

The bid of the second hand is largely 
affected by the dealer's bid. Should he 
bid one spade, it may be of advantage 
for you to double his one spade bid on 
short high black cards together with 
some outside strength, in order to inform 
your partner of the condition of your 
hand. Never bid two spades over a 
one spade bid, as it may place you in a 
bad position, whereas you can convey 
to your partner the information you 
wish by doubling the dealer's one spade 
bid. If the dealer bids one spade and 
you have in your hand a good bid, declare 

10 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 11 

it. Do not sit still with a good hand 
in order to put the third bidder in an 
awkward position, as he is likely to 
make some declaration that will put you 
in an awkward position before you have 
informed your partner of the condition 
of your hand. 

The no-trump bid is still, of course, 
the best declaration possible, but do not 
make the mistake of passing when you 
have a sound declaration in your hand. 
Should the dealer's bid suit your hand 
leave him in without doubling, unless 
by doubling you can show your partner 
that he may go safely to no-trumps so 
far as that suit is concerned, but where 
you have nothing else in your hand other 
than suit bid, sit tight and do not bid 
and do not double. It is almost always 
dangerous to double one no-trump, 



12 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

because your adversaries are quite cer- 
tain to shift to some strong suit, whereas 
by keeping still the declaration may 
hold at one no-trump and you may be 
able to put them down. On a no-trump 
bid by the dealer, it is advisable to bid 
two in some other suit if you are quite 
certain that you can make two, and also 
that you have' a sufficiently strong hand 
to prevent your adversaries' shifting to 
some other declaration. 



THE THIRD BIDDER. 

" Know the Score." 

The third bidder is in a position to 
do any one of several things. He can 
increase his partner's bid, providing the 
second bidder has made a higher dec- 
laration, or he can bid a suit of his own, 
or he can double the second bidder's 
declaration, or he can pass. 

If his partner has bid one no-trump 
and the second bidder has shifted to 
some other suit, it may be advisable to 
double the second bid rather than to bid 
two no-trumps; the option depending 
entirely upon his own hand and his 
knowledge of the second bidder's per- 
13 



14 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

sonal characteristics. Where his part- 
ner has bid to make one in some suit, it 
is often better to over-bid with a no- 
trump or a stronger suit in which it will 
be easier to go game, but if his partner 
holds to his original bid it is usually best 
to leave him with it. Of course, cer- 
tain unusual situations arise which can 
hardly be governed by any general rules. 
For example, I once made an original 
bid of two royals on a long high suit with 
fairly good outside support. The player 
on my left passed and my partner bid 
three diamonds, the fourth player passed 
and I found myself without a diamond 
in my hand and under the circumstances 
it seemed advisable for me to bid three 
royals, which I did. My partner then 
proceeded to bid five diamonds, which 
stopped my bidding, as it was evident 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 15 

that there was some extraordinary rea- 
son for the five-diamond bid which ren- 
dered it inadvisable for me to bid four 
royals. When the hand was played out, 
it developed that my partner held eleven 
diamonds headed by the five honors. 

Should your partner bid one spade and 
the second player pass, do not take him 
out on a poor hand, because his loss in 
penalties is limited to lOO, and by taking 
him out you simply make yourself liable 
for a greater loss. 

The most important bid by the third 
player comes when your partner has 
started with a declaration of one no- 
trump and you hold in your hand noth- 
ing of value, practically, except a long 
low suit such as queen, jack, lo, and two 
others, or jack, lo, 9, and three others, in 
which case you must bid two in that suit. 



16 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

provided it be royals, hearts, or diamonds. 
This tells your partner plainly that your 
hand is of no possible assistance to his 
no-trump and it is his business to let 
your bid hold unless his no-trump is so 
powerful that he does not require any 
support from your hand. In theory 
there is no reason why the same bid 
should not be taade in clubs imder simi- 
lar conditions, but in practice you will 
find that your partner will construe such 
a bid to indicate a long high suit in clubs, 
and may go to two no-trumps. If your 
hand is worse than those described above, 
leave his no-trump alone, as you can not 
support it in any event and v/ill probably 
increase any loss that might result in 
having it played as a no-trump. 

If your partner makes a declaration 
which is over-bid, you should not support 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 17 

his bid iinless you can see two tricks for 
him in your hand. Remember that a 
missing suit is worth something; its 
value depending on your holding trumps, 
and remember always that you must not 
support your partner's bid on trumps 
alone. He has the trumps; what he 
wants is outside tricks. You should 
have some trumps because his hand does 
not hold more than five in all proba- 
bility, but having a number of trumps 
with little outside strength you should 
be extremely careful about the support 
you give his hand. It is not essential 
that you should be able to stop your 
opponent's suit in order to support your 
partner when his no-trump bid has been 
over-bid, but in that event 3^ou must 
have strong high protection in the other 
suits. With his no-trump over-bid by 



18 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

some other suit in which you are ex- 
tremely weak, it is often better to shift 
to some suit in which you are fairly 
strong, as his no-trump declaration in- 
dicates strong assistance to your bid. It 
is often advisable for the third player to 
bid one no-trump over his partner's suit, 
but if his partner holds to his original 
suit the third player must abide by his 
decision. This over-bidding one's part- 
ner is purely informative, as all the bids 
in Auction should be, and it is often of 
the utmost value, because the second 
bidder may count on finding strong sup- 
port in the hand making the first decla- 
ration. When the second player has 
made a declaration, it is not always ad- 
visable to out -bid him, even though your 
hand may seem to warrant it. It may 
be that your bid would force the player on 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 19 

your left to a stronger declaration, and 
this you must determine from your 
partner's original bid, from your own 
hand, and especially from the condition 
of the score. On an original no-trump 
declaration by your partner, it is fre- 
quently better to double the second 
player's bid than to go to two no-trumps, 
should your hand warrant a double, 
because it is highly probable that the 
second player is trying simply to increase 
the obligation of the one no-trump 
declaration. 



THE FOURTH BIDDER. 

" Kjiow the Score." 

The bid of the fourth hand is governed 
by the principles laid down for the bid 
of the third hand, except that the fourth 
player has of necessity more information 
on which he is able to base his declara- 
tion. It is generally well to over-bid 
the declaration of an opponent if you 
can do so with safety, but it is not sound 
Auction, as a rule, to over-bid solely for 
the purpose of forcing your opponents 
to increase their contract. In fact the 
most scientific feature of Auction is the 
acquirement of a sound knowledge of 
when to take risks and when to be con- 
20 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 21 

servative. Undoubtedly, the best call 
with which to over-bid a suit declaration 
is the bid of no-trump, but here again 
the right time for such a declaration can 
be determined only by the sound judg- 
ment of an experienced player. Where 
the dealer has bid a no-trump, it is often 
of the utmost importance for the fourth 
player to bid some suit in order to show 
his partner what to lead. 



DOUBLING AND RE-DOUBLING. 

Generally speaking there are two 
objects in bidding. One is to go game 
and the other is to bid your opponents 
up to a point at which you can double 
their declaration. A special feature of 
doubling is to convey information to 
your partner, as when you double an 
original bid of one club so that he may 
feel justified in going to no-trump with 
the assurance that you can take care of 
the club suit. There is also what is 
known as a **free double.'* This arises 
where your opponents' bid will give 
them game should they make their con- 
tract, and where your double does not 
effect their going game. Be especially 
22 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 23 

careful about doubling where your oppo- 
nents will not go game, unless they make 
more tricks than their bid requires. It 
is seldom advisable to double a bid of 
one, especially where you have the suit 
bid well covered, with nothing else in 
your hand. A double may drive your 
opponents to some suit without benefit- 
ing in any way your partner's hand. 
If you have been doubled, be extremely 
cautious about re-doubling, because 
that may drive your opponents to some 
other suit in which you will be defeated. 
When your partner's bid has been 
doubled, take him out if you can with 
safety, but be very careful about increas- 
ing the size of your contract by bidding 
in some lower suit. It is often ad- 
visable to take your partner out of a 
double when you can do so by decreas- 



24 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

ing the size of your contract by bidding 
on some suit of a higher value. It is 
often better to double your opponent's 
bid when you lack tricks in the suit bid 
but have high outside cards. This is 
especially true if your opponent's bid 
has been supported by his partner, as 
that indicates a division of trumps be- 
tween their two hands and gives your 
high cards a better chance of making. 
If your partner's bid is doubled, do not 
be over-anxious to take him out, imless 
you are quite sure that the shift will not 
involve a heavier loss, as it is possible 
that he is quite willing to play his hand 
with the bid doubled. 



THE DISCARD. 

The history of the discard is inter- 
esting, and gives in itself an illustration 
of the method by which the game has 
been developed. In Bridge the first 
discard adopted was the strength dis- 
card, the idea being to direct your part- 
ner's attention to your strongest suit. 
Continued play convinced the best 
players that this method was faulty, as 
it weakened the strength of your long 
suit without compensating advantage, 
so that the strength discard was aban- 
doned and the discard from weakness 
was adopted as being better. 

Neither of these discards was entirely 
satisfactory, for the reason that it was 

25 



26 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

often desirable to show your partner 
your strong suit without delay, whereas 
if you had but one discard and discarded 
from a weak suit, it left two suits from 
which to select. 

As a result, there was finally evolved 
a method of discard which is now in 
universal use among good players. To 
show strength a high card, generally 
speaking seven or a higher card, is 
played, and to indicate weakness some 
card below seven. Of course, if a lower 
card than seven is discarded and fol- 
lowed by one still lower in the same suit, 
that would indicate strength, just as a 
high card followed by one higher in the 
same suit would indicate weakness. 

If there is opportunity for two dis- 
cards, then a low card from each of the 
two suits would indicate the third, but 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 27 

if there is opportiinity for only one dis- 
card, it is of great importance to be able 
to show strength. 

The present discard is of especial 
advantage when your opponent is run- 
ning down a long suit on no-trump, 
because so soon as you discover which 
of the two remaining suits your partner 
will protect, you can then discard that 
suit and hold the other. This is pre- 
dicted on the natural assumption that 
the leader has indicated his strong suit in 
the opening lead, or else has opened his 
partner's suit. 

Analogous to the discard is the play of 
cards in following suit, where you play 
a high followed by a low card to show 
that you can trump or take the third 
lead. 

Where you play two cards for the pur- 



28 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

pose of showing your partner that you 
can trump the third lead there is one 
point to observe. That is, that where 
one of your two cards is an honor you 
must play the low card first, because if 
you play the honor first your partner 
may think it a singleton and lead for an 
immediate ruff, instead of playing his 
other taking card first. 



THE "COME-ALONG" CARD. 

The play of this card is founded on the 
theory of the discard (see chapter on the 
discard), but occurs when following suit 
to the card led. If your partner leads 
a high card such as a king or ace and 
your first card played is low, it shows 
him that the suit led is not of especial 
value to your hand, whereas, if your 
first card played is high, it shows that 
you wish him to continue with the suit. 
This is of especial advantage in the play 
of a no-trump hand when your partner, 
having the lead, is himting for your 
strong suit. In that case, if he leads an 
ace and you follow with a high card, he 
29 



30 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

will continue to lead that suit; whereas 
if you foUow with a low card, he will 
shift to some other suit in the hope of 
finding your strength. 



THE PERSONAL EQUATION. 

If the best player in the world were to 
go into a club of which he was not a 
member and play Auction Bridge with 
men who were accustomed to playing 
with one another and with whom he had 
never played, he would be at a decided 
disadvantage until be became accus- 
tomed to the personal peculiarities of 
the individual players. The himian 
element and a thorough knowledge of 
the characteristics of individual players 
is of more importance in the playing of 
Auction Bridge than in any other card 
game, not even excepting Poker. 

The student of human nature quickly 
learns whether a player is too sanguine 
31 



^S2 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

or ultra-conservative, whether his bids 
are risky, or whether they can be relied 
upon. The majority of players have 
certain set and fixed rules of play from 
which they do not vary; they will, for 
example, always make conservative bids, 
providing they have the proper support. 
On the other hand, we find men whose 
original bids are extremely flimsy, who 
are not judicious in continuing their 
own bids, or supporting their partner's 
bids, and whose doubles usually come to 
grief. 

A valued friend of mine, who occasion- 
ally makes an unusual play, will, if 
reproved by his partner, sometimes 
defend himself by saying, "I do not 
propose to allow my individuality to be 
stifled by conventional rules." To this 
answer there has as yet been found no 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 33 

suitable rejoinder, and I strongly recom- 
mend it to those who find themselves in 
unfortimate situations. As a matter of 
fact, that statement is true of first-class 
players as well as others, but you should 
be certain of your rank before taking lib- 
erties with the canons and conventions 
of the game. Good players vary their 
system of bidding — ^never so as to de- 
ceive their partners, but to trap their 
adversaries. For example, a player 
who customarily bids the strength of his 
hand, or over, will become very conser- 
vative and play for a double; while, on 
the other hand, a conservative bidder 
will push his hand to the limit. The fol- 
lowing example illustrates good Auction, 
but you will not find the opening put 
down in any text-book. To a no-trump 
declaration my partner opened with the 



34 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

jack of diamonds. The queen was in 
the dummy and I held the ace, lo, 9, and 
6. At a glance it was obvious that he 
was not leading from king, jack, 10, or 
jack, 10, 9, and the only conclusion was 
that he had nothing: he was telling me 
that I was to protect myself, that he 
could not help me, and that his lead was 
intended to strengthen my hand if pos- 
sible. The result was that he made one 
trick, the 10 of clubs in his only 4-card 
suit, and that, profiting by his infor- 
mation, and playing him for nothing, I 
managed to pick up four tricks and we 
saved the game. 

Every man has some special quality 
about his bidding, or the playing of his 
hand, which it is of the greatest impor- 
tance for his opponents to know. With 
some it takes the form of losing their 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 35 

nerve when a high penalty score has 
been established against them. By 
losing their nerve I mean that in place 
of bidding their hands conservatively 
they take extreme risks, in order, if 
possible, to win the rubber and reduce 
their losses. The result of excessive 
bidding imder such conditions means 
invariably further doubling, and a 
greater loss, and a great accumulation 
of penalties. 

In fact, the ideal position for a player 
of Auction Bridge is to have one game 
in hand, something on the second, and a 
good score above the line. No man can 
win every rubber he plays, and it is 
cheaper in the long rim to lose inexpen- 
sive rubbers than those which nm up to 
high figures. Some men are so risky in 
their original makes that when they bid 



36 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

one spade it tells the observant partner 
that he must rely on his own hand for 
almost every trick for which he bids. 
Others are so conservative that an 
original bid of one no-trump should be 
treated with the utmost respect. 

Where the question of doubling enters 
into the game, it is especially important 
that you should have a knowledge of 
your opponents* characteristics. 

There are some men who if they have 
a really good suit can be induced by 
judicious pushing to raise their bid to a 
point where they can be heavily penal- 
ized. In crowding your opponents up 
with the intention of doubling, it is 
always essential to know how far they 
are apt to go before you find yourself in 
too deep water. This is where the good 
player takes a little extra risk solely 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 37 

because of his knowledge of the personal 
characteristics of his opponents. There 
are players who double on the slightest 
provocation and who must be treated 
with the utmost respect. On the other 
hand, there are players who seem to get 
stampeded if they or their partners are 
doubled, and who will shift to some other 
suit where they can be put down for an 
even heavier loss. A good player who 
has his bid doubled is frequently willing 
to play the double and it is foolish for 
his partner to take him out, especially if 
he has good support in the other suits; 
tmless, of cotirse, he has some bid much 
superior. 

There is one peculiarity which some 
good players have and which has cost 
them many a game and rubber, and that 
is the habit of worrying a poor partner. 



38 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

If you have for partner one who is help- 
lessly poor or who is only moderately 
good and you find him making one or 
more atrocious mistakes, be careful never 
to point them out. Leave him with as 
much confidence in himself as you pos- 
sibly can, because once you commence 
to criticise his playing he is certain to go 
up in the air and. forget everything about 
the game that he has ever learned. 
Express your appreciation of any good 
play that he makes whether by accident 
or intention, and you will be surprised 
to find how much better he will do than 
if you adopt the method of pointing out 
his faults. 



THE LUCK OF THE GAME. 

It seems odd to introduce the subject 
of good luck or bad luck in a book 
on Auction Bridge, but experience has 
proved it to be a marked factor in the 
play of the game. In the ordinary- 
affairs of life we observe that men have 
what seems to be good luck or bad luck 
for certain periods of time; sometimes 
long continued and sometimes the re- 
verse. But in the ordinary affairs of 
life so many elements enter into the 
problem and our observation is so super- 
ficial that what seems like luck may be 
in reality the result of intelligent indus- 
try or the opposite. 



40 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

In the play of cards, on the other hand, 
it will be found that luck is a well defined 
element which continues for longer or 
shorter periods, independent of the 
judgment or skill of the player. Con- 
servative makes will go wrong by reason 
of the lack of supporting cards in the 
dummy, or because of some losing finesse, 
or for any one of a dozen reasons. The 
cards you hold will be much below the 
average, and if you have a good player 
for partner he will make his one costly 
mistake of the afternoon or evening 
when he is yotir partner. In fact every- 
thing will go against you, and this run of 
bad luck will continue for a matter of 
days, weeks, and in some cases for years. 
This is in accordance with the law of 
averages. Luck is supposed to and prob- 
ably does average up in the long run 



HOPSON ON AUCTION 41 

for every man, but it does not average 
up every ten minutes or every half hour. 
When luck is rimning strongly in your 
favor you can afford to bid your hand 
perceptibly higher than imder normal 
conditions, and when luck is rimning 
against you it is imperative that you 
make your bids much more conservative 
than usual. Too many players make 
the mistake of over-bidding their hands 
in a desperate attempt to recover their 
losses. Sit tight when your luck is bad. 
The men who win out at Auction are the 
men who have small losses and big win- 
nings. Do not expect to win every 
rubber, and when you lose keep your 
losses as small as possible. 

The purpose of this chapter is not to 
encourage players to crowd their good 
luck, because they will do that in any 



42 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

event, but to impress as strongly as 
possible the necessity for ultra-conser- 
vatism when luck is running against 
you. 



The Laws of 

Auction Bridge 

As adopted by 

The Whist Club 

Also the Etiquette of the Game 

With Amendments of December, 1911 

Copyrighted by The Whist Club of New York 



43 



THE LAWS 

OF 

AUCTION BRIDGE 



THE RUBBER. 

1. The partners first winning two 

games win the rubber. If the first two 

games decide the rubber, a third is not 

played. 

SCORING. 

2. A game consists of thirty points 
obtained by tricks alone, exclusive of 
any points cotinted for honors, chicane, 
slam, little slam, bonus, or tmdertricks. 

3. Every deal is played out, and any 
points in excess of the thirty necessary 
for the game are counted. 

45 



46 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

4. When the declarer wins the num- 
ber of tricks bid, each one above six 
counts towards the game: two points 
when spades are trumps, four when clubs 
are trumps, six when diamonds are 
trumps, eight when hearts are trumps* 
and twelve when there are no trumps. 

5. Honors are ace, king, queen, 
knave, and ten of the trump suit ; or the 
aces when no trump is delcared. 

6. Honors are credited in the honor 
column to the original holders, being 
valued as follows: 

When a Trump is Declared, 



3 honors held between partners equal value of 2 tricks. 
4 ' " 4 " 

5 • •• " •• S " 

4 " " in I hand " " 8 " 



fSthin ) 
partner's r 
hand ) 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 47 

When No Trump is Declared. 

3 aces held between partners count 30 

4 " " 40 

4 " *' In one hand " 100 

7. Slam is made when seven by- 
cards is scored, independently of tricks 
taken as penalty for the revoke; it adds 
forty points to the honor count. ^ 

8. Little slam is made when six by 
cards is similarly scored ; it adds twenty 
points to the honor coimt. ^ 

9. Chicane (one hand void of trumps) 
is equal in value to simple honors, i.e.j if 
the partners, one of whom has chicane, 
score honors, it adds the value of three 
honors to their honor score; if the adver- 
saries score honors, it deducts that value 
from theirs. Double chicane (both 
hands void of trimips) is equal in value 

^ Law 86 prohibits the revoking side from scor- 
ing slam or little slam. 



48 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

to four honors, and that value must be 
deducted from the honor score of the 
adversaries. 

10. The value of honors, slam, little 
slam, or chicane is not affected by doub- 
ling or re-doubling. 

i II. At the conclusion of a rubber the 
trick and honor scores of each side are 
added, anS two hundred and fifty points 
added to the score of the winners. The 
difference between the completed scores 
is the number of points of the rubber. 

12. A proven error in the honor score 
may be corrected at any time before the 
score of the rubber has been made up 
and agreed upon. 

13. A proven error in the trick score 
may be corrected prior to the conclusion 
of the game in which it occurred. Such 
game shall not be considered concluded 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 49 

until a declaration has been made in the 
following game, or if it be the final game 
of the rubber, until the score has been 
made up and agreed upon. 

CUTTING. 

14. In cutting, the ace is the lowest 
card ; as between cards of otherwise equal 
value, the lowest is the heart, next the 
diamond, next the club, and highest the 
spade. 

15. Every player must cut from the 
same pack. 

16. Should a player expose more than 
one card, the highest is his cut. 

FORMING TABLES. 

17. The prior right of playing is with 
those first in the room. If there be 



50 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

more than four candidates, the privilege 
of playing is decided by cutting. The 
four who cut the lowest cards play first. 

1 8. After the table is formed, the 
players cut to decide upon partners, 
the lower two playing against the higher 
two. The lowest is the dealer, who has 
choice of cards and seats, and who, hav- 
ing made his Selection, must abide by it. 

19. Six players constitute a complete 
table. 

20. The right to succeed any player 
who may retire is acquired by announ- 
cing the desire to do so, and such 
announcement shall constitute a prior 
right to the first vacancy. 

CUTTING OUT. 

21. If, at the end of a rubber, admis- 
sion be claimed by one or two candidates, 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 51 

the player or players having played the 
greatest number of consecutive rubbers 
shall withdraw; but when all have 
played the same number, they must cut 
to decide upon the outgoers ; the highest 
are out. ^ 

RIGHTS OF ENTRY. 

22. A candidate desiring to enter a 
table must declare such wish before any 
player at the table cuts a card, for the 
purpose either of beginning a new rubber 
or of cutting out. 

23. In the formation of new tables, 
those candidates who have not played 
at any other table have the prior right 
of entry; those who have already 
played decide their right to admission 
by cutting. 

* See Law 14 as to value of cards in cutting. 



52 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

24. When one or more players belong- 
ing to another table aid in making up a 
new one, the new players at such table 
shall be the first to go out. 

25. A player who cuts into one table, 
while belonging to another, shall forfeit 
his prior right of re-entry into the latter, 
unless he has helped to form a new table. 
In this event he may signify his inten- 
tion of returning to his original table 
when his place at the new one can be 
filled. 

26. Should any player quit the table 
during the progress of a rubber, he may, 
with the consent of the other three, 
appoint a substitute to play during his 
absence; but such appointment shall 
become void with the conclusion of the 
rubber, and shall not in any way 
affect the substitute's rights. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 53 

27. If any one break up a table, the 
remaining players have a prior right at 
other tables. 

SHUFFLING. 

28. The pack must not be shuffled 
below the table nor so that the face of 
any card may be seen. 

29. The dealer's partner must collect 
the cards from the preceding deal and 
has the right to shuffle the cards first. 
Each player has the right to shuffle sub- 
sequently. The dealer has the right to 
shuffle last; but, should a card or cards 
be seen during the shiiffling, or while 
giving the pack to be cut, he must 
re-shuffle. 

30. After shuffling, the cards properly 
collected must be placed face downward 
to the left of the next dealer. 



54 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

THE DEAL. 

31. Each player deals in his turn; 
the order of dealing is to the left. 

32. The player on the dealer's right 
cuts the pack, and in dividing it he 
must leave not fewer than four cards in 
each packet ; if in cutting or in replacing 
one of the two packets a card be exposed, 
or if there be any confusion or a doubt 
as to the exact place in which the pack 
was divided, there must be a fresh cut. 

33. When the player whose duty it is 
to cut has once separated the pack, he 
can neither re-shuffle nor re-cut, except 
as provided in Law 32. 

34. Should the dealer shuffle the cards 
after the cut, the pack must be cut again. 

35. The fifty-two cards shall be dealt 
face downward. The deal is not com- 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 55 

pleted until the last card has been 
dealt. 

36. There is no penalty for a misdeal. 
The cards must be dealt again. 

A NEW DEAL, 

37. There must be a new deal — 

a If the cards be not dealt into four 
packets, one at a time and in regular 
rotation, beginning at the dealer's 
left. 

h If, during a deal, or during the play, 
the pack be proven incorrect or 
imperfect. 

c If any card be faced in the pack or be 
exposed during the deal on, above, or 
below the table. 

d If any player have dealt to him a 
greater number of cards than thir- 
teen, whether discovered before or 
during the play. 

e If the dealer deal two cards at once 
and then deal a third before cor- 
recting the error. 



56 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

/ If the dealer omit to have the pack cut 
and either adversary calls attention 
to the fact prior to the completion 
of the deal and before either adver- 
sary has looked at any of his cards. 

g If the last card do not come in its 
regular order to the dealer. 

40.* Should three players have their 
right number of cards, the fourth, less 
than thirteen and not discover such 
deficiency until he has played, the deal 
stands; he, not being dummy, is an- 
swerable for any established revoke he 
may have made as if the missing card or 
cards had been in his hand. Any player 
may search the other pack for it or them. 

41. If, during the play, a pack be 
proven incorrect or imperfect, such proof 
renders the current deal void but does 
not affect any prior score. (See Law 

* Laws 38 and 39 have been repealed. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 57 

37 h.) If, during or at the conclusion of 
the play, one player be found to hold 
more than the proper number of cards 
and another have an equal number less, 
the hand is void. 

42. A player dealing out of turn or 
with the adversaries' cards may be cor- 
rected before the last card is dealt, other- 
wise the deal must stand, and the game 
proceed as if the deal had been correct. 
A player who has looked at any of his 
cards may not correct such deal, nor 
may his partner. 

43. A player can neither cut, shuffle, 
nor deal for his partner without the per- 
mission of his adversaries. 

DECLARING TRUMPS. 

44. The dealer, having examined his 
hand, must declare to win at least one 



58 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

odd trick, either with a trump suit, or 
at '* no-trumps." 

45. After the dealer has made his dec- 
laration, each player in turn, commen- 
cing with the player on the dealer's left, 
has the right to pass or to make a higher 
declaration, or to double the last dec- 
laration madCj^ or to re-double a dec- 
laration which has been doubled, subject 
to the provisions of Law 55. 

46. A declaration of a greater number 
of tricks in a suit of lower value, which 
equals the last declaration in value of 
points, shall be considered a higher dec- 
laration — e.g., a declaration of "Two 
Spades" is a higher declaration than 
*'One Club," and ''Two Diamonds" is 
higher than "One No-Trump." 

47. A player in his turn may over-bid 
the previous declaration any number 



LAWS OP AUCTION BRIDGE 59 

of times, and may also over-bid his part- 
ner, but he cannot over-bid his own dec- 
laration which has been passed by the 
other three players. 

48. When the final declaration has 
been made — Le., when the last declara- 
tion has been passed by the other three 
players — the player who has made such 
declaration (or in the case where both 
partners have made declarations in the 
same suit, or of '* No-Trumps," the player 
who first made such declaration) shall 
play the combined hands of himself 
and of his partner, the latter becoming 
dummy. 

49. When the player of the two hands 
(hereinafter termed **the declarer") 
wins at least as many tricks as he de- 
clared to do, he scores the full value of 
the tricks won (see Laws 4 and 6). 



60 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

When he fails, his adversaries score in 
the honor column fifty points for each 
under- trick — i.e.y each trick short of the 
number declared; or, if the declaration 
have been doubled, or re-doubled, one 
hundred or two hundred respectively for 
each such trick ; neither the declarer nor 
his adversaries score anything towards 
the game. 

50. The loss on the declaration of 
''One Spade" shall be limited to one 
hundred points in respect of under- 
tricks, whether doubled or not, unless 
re-doubled. 

51. If a player make a declaration 
(other than passing) out of turn, either 
adversary may demand a new deal, or 
may allow the declaration so made to 
stand, when the bidding shall continue 
as if the declaration had been in order. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 61 

52. If a player, in bidding, fail to de- 
clare a sufficient number of tricks to over- 
bid the previous declaration, he shall be 
considered to have declared the requisite 
number of tricks in the bid which he has 
made, provided either adversary call 
attention to the insufficient bid; but if 
either of them pass, double, or make a 
higher declaration, the offence is con- 
doned. When the insufficient declara- 
tion is corrected to the requisite number 
of tricks in the bid, the partner of the 
declarer shall be debarred from making 
any further declaration, imless either of 
his adversaries make a higher declara- 
tion or double. If a player make an 
impossible declaration, it is equivalent 
to a bid of all the tricks, in which case 
neither the offending player nor his part- 
ner can make any further declaration 



62 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

during that hand, unless either adversary- 
double. The opponents of the offend- 
ing player, or either of them, may demand 
a new deal, or may treat their own dec- 
laration as a final bid. 

53. After the final declaration has 
been made, a player is not entitled to 
give his partner any information as to a 
previous declaration, whether made by 
himself or by either adversary, but a 
player is entitled to inquire, at any time 
during the play of the hand, what was 
the final declaration. 

DOUBLING AND RE-DOUBLING. 

54. The effect of doubling and re-doub- 
ling is that the value of each trick over 
six is doubled or quadrupled, as provided 
in Law 4 ; but it does not alter the value 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 63 

of a declaration — e.g., a declaration of 
''Two Diamonds" is higher than ''One 
No-Trump ' ' although the ' ' No-Tnimp ' * 
declaration has been doubled. 

55. Any declaration can be doubled 
and re-doubled once, but not more; a 
player cannot double his partner's dec- 
laration, nor re-double his partner's 
double, but he may re-double a declara- 
tion of his partner which has been 
doubled by an adversary 

56. The act of doubling, or re-doub- 
ling, reopens the bidding. When a dec- 
laration has been doubled or re-doubled, 
any player, including the declarer or his 
partner, can in his proper turn make a 
further declaration of higher value. 

57. When a player whose declaration 
has been doubled makes good his decla- 
ration by winning at least the declared 



64 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

number of tricks, he scores a bonus, 
which consists of fifty points in the 
honor column, for winning the number 
of tricks declared, and a further fifty- 
points for each additional trick he may 
win. If he or his partner have re- 
doubled, the bonus is doubled. 

58. If a player double out of turn, 
either adversary may demand a new 
deal. 

59. When the final declaration has 
been made, the play shall begin, and the 
player on the left of the declarer shall 
lead. 

60. A declaration once made cannot 
be altered, unless it has been doubled or 
a higher declaration made. 

DUMMY. 

61. As soon as the eldest hand has led, 



LAWS OP AUCTION BRIDGE 65 

the declarer's partner shall place his 
cards face upward on the table, and the 
duty of playing the cards from that hand 
shall devolve upon the declarer. 

62. Before placing his cards upon the 
table, the declarer's partner has all the 
rights of a player, but after so doing 
takes no part whatever in the play, 
except that he has the right : 

a To ask the declarer whether he have 
any of a suit which he may have 
renounced ; 

h To call the declarer's attention to the 
fact that too many or too few cards 
have been played to a trick; 

c To correct the claim of either adver- 
sary to a penalty to which the latter 
is not entitled ; 

d To call attention to the fact that a 
trick has been erroneously taken by 
either side; 

e To participate in the discussion of any 



66 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

disputed question of fact after it has 
arisen between the declarer and 
either adversary. 
/ To correct an erroneous score. 

63. Should the declarer's partner call 
attention to any other incident of the 
play in consequence of which any pen- 
alty might have been exacted, the de- 
clarer is precluded from exacting such 
penalty. 

64. If the declarer's partner, by 
touching a card or otherwise, suggest the 
play of a card from dummy, either 
adversary may, without consultation, 
call upon the declarer to play or not to 
play the card suggested. 

65. Dummy is not liable to the pen- 
alty for a revoke; if he revoke and the 
error be not discovered until the trick is 
turned and quitted, the trick must stand. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 67 

66. A card from the declarer*s own 
hand is not played until actually quitted, 
but should he name or touch a card in 
the dummy, such card is considered as 
played unless he, in touching the card, 
say, ** I arrange," or words to that effect. 
If he simultaneously touch two or more 
such cards, he may elect which one to 
play. 

CARDS EXPOSED BEFORE PLAY. 

67. If, after the cards have been dealt, 
and before the trump declaration has 
been finally determined, any player 
expose a card from his hand, either 
adversary may demand a new deal. If 
the deal be allowed to stand, the exposed 
card may be picked up, and cannot be 
called. If any player lead before the final 



68 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

declaration has been determined, the 
partner of the offending player may 
not make any further bid during that 
hand and the declarer may call a lead 
from the adversary whose turn it is to 
lead. 

68. If, after the final declaration has 
been accepted and before a card is led, 
the partner of the player who has to lead 
to the first trick expose a card from his 
hand, the declarer may, instead of call- 
ing the card, require the leader not to 
lead the suit of the exposed card; if so 
exposed by the leader it is subject to 
call. 

CARDS EXPOSED DURING PLAY. 

69. All cards exposed after the origi- 
nal lead by the declarer's adversaries 
are liable to be called, and such cards 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 69 

must be left face upward on the table. 

70. The following are exposed cards: 

1st. Two or more cards played at once. 

2d. Any card dropped with its face 
upward on the table, even though 
snatched up so quickly that it 
cannot be named. 

3d. Any card so held by a player that 
his partner sees any portion of its 
face. 

4th. Any card mentioned by either ad- 
versary as being held by him or 
his partner. 

71. A card dropped on the floor or 
elsewhere below the table, or so held 
that an adversary but not the partner 
sees it, is not an exposed card. 

72. If two or more cards be played at 
once by either of the declarer's adver- 
saries, the declarer shall have the right 



70 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

to call any one of such cards to the cur- 
rent trick, and the other card or cards 
are exposed. 

73. If, without waiting for his partner 
to play, either of the declarer's adver- 
saries play on the table the best card or 
lead one which is a winning card, as 
against the declarer and dummy, and 
continue (without waiting for his part- 
ner to play) to lead several such cards, 
the declarer may demand that the part- 
ner of the player in fault win, if he can, 
the first or any other of these tricks, and 
the other cards thus improperly played 
are exposed cards. 

74. If either or both of the declarer's 
adversaries throw his or their cards on 
the table face upward, such cards are 
exposed and are liable to be called ; but 
if either adversary retain his hand he 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 71 

cannot be forced to abandon it. Cards 
exposed by the declarer are not liable to 
be called. If the declarer say, *'I have 
the rest," or any other words indicating 
that the remaining tricks or any number 
thereof are his, he may be required to 
place his cards face upward on the table. 
His adversaries are not liable to have 
any of their cards called shoiild they 
thereupon expose them. 

75. If a player who has rendered him- 
self liable to have the highest or lowest 
of a suit called (Laws 82, 88, and 95) 
fail to play as directed, or if, when called 
on to lead one suit, he lead another, 
having in his hand one or more cards of 
the suit demanded (Laws 76 and 96), or 
if, called upon to win or lose a trick, he 
fail to do so when he can (Laws 73, 82, 
and 95), he is liable to the penalty for 



72 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

revoke, unless such play be corrected 
before the trick is turned and quitted. 

LEADS OUT OF TURN. 

76. If either of the declarer's adver- 
saries lead out of turn, the declarer may 
either treat the card so led as an exposed 
card, or may call a suit as soon as it is the 
turn of either adversary to lead. 

77. If the declarer lead out of turn, 
either from his own hand or from 
dummy, he incurs no penalty; but he 
may not rectify the error after the sec- 
ond hand has played. 

78. If any player lead out of turn and 
the other three follow, the trick is com- 
plete and the error cannot be rectified; 
but if only the second, or second and 
third, play to the false lead, their cards 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 73 

may be taken back; there is no penalty 
against any except the original offender, 
who, if he be one of the declarer's adver- 
saries, may be penalized as provided in 
Law 76. 

79. A player cannot be compelled to 
play a card which would oblige him to 
revoke. 

80. The call of an exposed card may 
be repeated until such card has been 
played. 

81. If a player called on to lead a suit 
have none of it, the penalty is paid. 

CARDS PLAYED IN ERROR. 

82. Should the fourth hand, not being 
dummy or declarer, play before the 
second, the latter may be called upon to 
play his highest or lowest card of the 
suit played, or to win or lose the trick. 



74 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

83. If any one, not being dummy, 
omit playing to a trick and such error 
be not corrected until he has played to 
the next, the adversaries or either of 
them may claim a new deal ; should they 
decide that the deal is to stand, the sur- 
plus card at the end of the hand is 
considered to have been played to the 
imperfect trick, but does not constitute 
a revoke therein. 

84. If any one, except dummy, play 
two or more cards to the same trick and 
the mistake be not corrected, he is an- 
swerable for any consequent revokes he 
may have made. If during the play 
the error be detected, the tricks may be 
counted face downward, to see if any 
contain more than four cards; should 
this be the case, the trick which contains 
a surplus card or cards may be exam- 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 75 

ined and the card or cards restored to 
the original holder, who (not being 
dummy) shall be liable for any revoke 
he may meanwhile have made, 

THE REVOKE. 

85. A revoke occurs when a player, 
other than dummy, holding one or more 
cards of the suit led, plays a card of a 
different suit. It becomes an estab- 
lished revoke if the trick in which it 
occurs be turned and quitted (i.e.y the 
hand removed from the trick after it has 
been turned face downward on the 
table); or if either the revoking player 
or his partner, whether in turn or other- 
wise, lead or play to the following trick. 

86. The penalty for each established 
revoke shall be: 



76 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

(a) When the declarer revokes, his 
adversaries add 150 points to their 
score in the honor column, in addi- 
tion to any penalty which he may 
have incurred for not making good 
his declaration. 

(b) If either of the adversaries revoke, 
the declarer may either add 150 
points to his score in the honor col- 
umn, or may take three tricks from 
his opponents and add them to his 
own. Such tricks may assist the 
declarer to make good his declara- 
tion, but shall not entitle him to 
score any bonus in the honor col- 
umn, in the case of the declaration 
having been doubled or re-doubled. 

(c) When more than one revoke is made 
during the play of the hand, the 
penalty for each revoke after the 
first shall be 100 points in the honor 
column. 

A revoking side cannot score, except 
for honors in trumps or chicane. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 77 

87. A player may ask his partner if 
he have a card of the suit which he has 
renounced ; should the question be asked 
before the trick is turned and quitted, 
subsequent turning and quitting does 
not establish a revoke, and the error 
may be corrected, imless the question be 
answered in the negative, or unless the 
revoking player or his partner have led 
or played to the following trick. 

88. If a player correct his mistake in 
time to save a revoke, any player or 
players who have followed him may 
withdraw their cards and substitute 
others, and the cards so withdrawn are 
not exposed. If the player in fault be 
one of the declarer's adversaries, the 
card played in error is exposed and the 
declarer may call it whenever he pleases ; 
or he may require the offender to play 



78 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

his highest or lowest card of the suit to 
the trick, but this penalty cannot be 
exacted from the declarer. 

89. At the end of a hand the claimants 
of a revoke may search all the tricks. 
If the cards have been mixed, the claim 
may be urged and proved if possible; 
but no proof is necessary and the claim 
is established if; after it has been made, 
the accused player or his partner mix 
the cards before they have been suf- 
ficiently examined by the adversaries. 

90. Arevokemust be claimed before the 
cards have been cut for the following deal. 

91. Should both sides revoke, the 
only score permitted shall be for honors 
in trumps or chicane. If one side revoke 
more than once, the penalty of 100 
points for each extra revoke shall then 
be scored by the other side. 



LAWS OF AUCTION BRIDGE 79 

GENERAL RULES. 

92. There must not be any consulta- 
tion between partners as to the enforce- 
ment of penalties. If they do so consult, 
the penalty is paid. 

93. Once a trick is complete, turned 
and quitted, it must not be looked 
at (except imder Law 84) until the end 
of the hand. 

94. Any player during the play of a 
trick or after the four cards are played, 
and before they are touched for the pur- 
pose of gathering them together, may 
demand that the cards be placed before 
their respective players. 

95. If either of the declarer's adver- 
saries, prior to his partner playing, call 
attention to the trick, either by saying it 
is his, or, without being requested so to 



80 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

do, by naming his card or drawing it 
towards him, the declarer may require 
such partner to play his highest or low- 
est card of the suit led, or to win or lose 
the trick. 

96. Either of the declarer's adver- 
saries may call his partner's attention 
to the fact that he is about to play or 
lead out of turn ; but if, during the play 
of a hand, he make any unauthorized 
reference to any incident of the play, 
or of any bid previously made, the de- 
clarer may call a suit from the adversary 
whose turn it is next to lead. 

97. In all cases where a penalty has 
been incurred, the offender is bound to 
give reasonable time for the decision of 
his adversaries; but if a wrong penalty 
be demanded, none can be enforced. 

98. Where the declarer or his partner 



LAWS OP AUCTION BRIDGE 81 

has incurred a penalty, one of his adver- 
saries may say, "Partner, will you exact 
the penalty or shall I? '* but whether this 
is said or not, if either adversary name 
the penalty, his decision is final. 

NEW CARDS. 

99. Unless a pack be imperfect, no 
player shall have the right to call for one 
new pack. If fresh cards be demanded, 
two packs must be furnished. If they 
be produced during a rubber, the adver- 
saries shall have the choice of the new 
cards. If it be the beginning of a new 
rubber, the dealer, whether he or one 
of his adversaries be the party calling for 
the new cards, shall have the choice. 
New cards must be called for before the 
pack be cut for a new deal. 

6 



82 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

100. A card or cards torn or marked 
must be replaced by agreement or new 
cards furnished. 

BYSTANDERS. 

1 01. While a bystander, by agreement 
among the players, may decide any ques- 
tion, he must on no account say any- 
thing unless appealed to ; and if he make 
any remark which calls attention to an 
oversight affecting the score, or to the 
exaction of a penalty, he is liable to be 
called upon by the players to pay the 
stakes (not extras) lost. 



ETIQUETTE 

OF 

AUCTION BRIDGE 

In Bridge slight intimations convey- 
much information. A code is compiled 
for the purpose of succinctly stating 
laws and for fixing penalties for an 
offence. To offend against a rule of 
etiquette is far more serious than to 
offend against a law; for, while in the 
latter case the offender is subject to the 
prescribed penalties, in the former his 
adversaries have no redress. 

I. Declarations should be made in a 
simple manner, thus: "One Heart," 
'*One No-trimip," or "I pass," or *'I 



84 HOPSON ON AUCTION 

double,'* and must be made orally and 
not by gesture. 

2. Aside from his legitimate declara- 
tion, a player should not give any indi- 
cation by word or gesture as to the 
nature of his hand, or as to his pleasure 
or displeasure at a play, a bid, or a 
double. 

3. If a player demand that the cards 
be placed, he should do so for his own 
information and not to call his partner's 
attention to any card or play. 

4. No player, other than the declarer, 
should lead until the preceding trick is 
turned and quitted; nor, after having 
led a winning card, should he draw 
another from his hand before his partner 
has played to the current trick. 

5. A player should not play a card 
with such emphasis as to draw attention 



ETIQUETTE OF AUCTION BRIDGE 85 

to it; nor should he detach one card 
from his hand and subsequently play 
another. 

6. A player should not purposely 
incur a penalty because he is willing to 
pay it, nor should he make a second 
revoke to conceal a first. 

7. Players should avoid discussion 
and refrain from talking during the 
play, as it may be annoying to players 
at the table or to those at other tables in 
the room. 

8. The dummy should not leave his 
seat for the purpose of watching his 
partner's play, neither should he call 
attention to the score nor to any card 
or cards that he or the other players 
hold, nor to any bid previously made. 

9. If the declarer say "I have the 
rest," or any words indicating the remain- 



8Q HOPSON ON AUCTION 

ing tricks are his, and one or both of 
the other players should expose his or 
their cards, or request the declarer to 
play out the hand, he should not allow 
any information so obtained to influence 
his play, nor take any finesse not an- 
nounced by him at the time of making 
such claim, unless it had been previously 
proven to be a winner. 

10. If a player concede in error one 
or more tricks, the concession should 
stand. 

11. A player having been cut out of 
one table should not seek admission into 
another unless willing to cut for the 
privilege of entry. 

12. No player should look at any of 
his cards until the deal be completed. 



JUN II 19^2 



